SportsDirect Inc. Recap: Blue Jays 5, Twins 4 Blue Jays 5, Twins 4: Kevin Pillar delivered a one-out RBI single in the ninth inning as host Toronto halted a brief two-game slide. Edwin Encarnacion went 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs while Jose Reyes homered among his three hits while stealing a pair of bases for the Blue Jays. Casey Janssen (1-0) notched the win after blowing his second save opportunity of the season after R.A. Dickey allowed two runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings.

THREE UP A text message to manager Terry Francona delivered the good news: David Ortiz wanted back in. After being benched Sunday, the slugger went 2-for-5 to raise his average from .070 to .104. Alex Rodriguez hit No. 521 to match Hall of Famers Ted Williams and Willie McCovey for 15th on the career home run list. The slugger, who went 4-for-5, also scored his 500th run with the Yankees. Ivan Rodriguez hit a solo homer and a tying two-run triple, then scored the go-ahead run on a sac fly to...

Mariners 6, Twins 2: Robinson Cano had a season-high four hits and drove in a run while Felix Hernandez tossed eight strong innings as Seattle avoided a sweep at Minnesota. Hernandez (5-1) allowed two runs on seven singles and struck out five while Fernando Rodney worked around a two-out single in a non-save situation in the ninth inning. Michael Saunders finished with two hits and two RBIs for the Mariners, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Trevor Plouffe singled twice and knocked in a pair to...

Yankees right fielder Gary Sheffield will undergo surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist but is not expected to miss the rest of the season, general manager Brian Cashman said on Thursday. Sheffield, out until at least September, originally hurt the wrist when he collided at first base with Shea Hillenbrand of the Toronto Blue Jays on April 29 and has been on and off the disabled list. Loaiza gets 1st win of season Esteban Loaiza came off the disabled list and got his first...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Minnesota Twins - INSIDE PITCH For the most part, the Minnesota Twins have had a history of being able to go to the bullpen to keep games close or put opponents away. They may be on the way to building another stable of sound arms. If it wasn't apparent that Glen Perkins isn't a top-notch closer, he's showed the traits of it twice this year with his resiliency. He has followed both of his blown saves with a lights-out performance,...

Lance Berkman cracked a grand slam over the left-field wall to key an eight-run seventh inning as the Astros defeated the Giants 12-4. It was Berkman's fourth career slam and 24th homer of the season. Alex Rodriguez hit a solo homer off Matt Guerrier in the 12th, kick-starting a three-run inning, as the Yankees defeated the Twins 9-6, knocking Minnesota into second place in the AL Central, a half-game back of the White Sox. The Indians' Asdrubal Cabrera had the go-ahead hit for the second straight night in a...

SportsDirect Inc. Recap: Brewers 6, Dodgers 4 Brewers 6, Dodgers 4: Carlos Gomez had three hits, including a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh, and visiting Milwaukee ended a two-game losing streak against Los Angeles. Brewers catcher Martin Maldonado added another two-run homer in the eighth, helping starter Wily Peralta (2-1) earn the victory after allowing three runs and six hits in six innings. Third baseman Yuniesky Betancourt contributed two hits and an RBI for the Brewers, but his...

The Twins continue to explore trade options to replace injured closer Joe Nathan . If the price for available arms such as Heath Bell and Jason Frasor remains too high for their taste, the options include moving Francisco Liriano from the rotation and counting on prospect Anthony Slama , who has been pitching great. Jon Rauch and Matt Guerrier are also candidates. Pat Neshek is not an option as his velocity hasn't returned. … Tyler Flowers' ...

SportsDirect Inc. Recap: Dodgers 3, Padres 2 Dodgers 3, Padres 2: Pinch hitter Juan Uribe hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning and visiting Los Angeles edged San Diego in a game marred by a bench-clearing brawl. Adrian Gonzalez added a two-run homer for the Dodgers, who were leading 2-1 when starter Zack Greinke hit Carlos Quentin with a 3-2 pitch leading off the bottom of the sixth. Quentin was ejected after charging the mound and Greinke left with an apparent sore left shoulder.

The White Sox game of bullpen musical chairs is nearing completion with Wednesday's signing of Twins' free agent Jesse Crain, pending a physical. Crain would become the eighth-inning right-handed setup man with the departures of Scott Linebrink (trade to the Braves), J.J. Putz (free agent to the Diamondbacks) and Bobby Jenks (close to signing with the Rays). One of the workhorses of the Twins' bullpen the last three years, Crain pitched in 71 games last season and posted a 3.04...

The White Sox game of bullpen musical chairs is nearing completion with Wednesday's signing of Twins' free agent Jesse Crain, pending a physical. Crain would become the eighth-inning right-handed setup man with the departures of Scott Linebrink (trade to the Braves), J.J. Putz (free agent to the Diamondbacks) and Bobby Jenks (close to signing with the Rays). One of the workhorses of the Twins' bullpen the last three years, Crain pitched in 71 games last season and posted a 3.04...

SportsDirect Inc. Recap: Dodgers 3, Padres 2 Dodgers 3, Padres 2: Pinch hitter Juan Uribe hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning and visiting Los Angeles edged San Diego in a game marred by a bench-clearing brawl. Adrian Gonzalez added a two-run homer for the Dodgers, who were leading 2-1 when starter Zack Greinke hit Carlos Quentin with a 3-2 pitch leading off the bottom of the sixth. Quentin was ejected after charging the mound and Greinke left with an apparent sore left shoulder.

The White Sox fell out of a first-place tie with the Twins on Thursday night, and home plate never seemed so distant with runners in scoring position. After stranding runners in scoring position in three consecutive innings, the Sox paid the price when Jason Kubel clubbed a three-run home run off Gavin Floyd with two out in the seventh inning to vault the Twins to a 6-1 victory and sole possession of first in the American League Central before a puzzled crowd of 33,237...

The Twins continue to explore trade options to replace injured closer Joe Nathan . If the price for available arms such as Heath Bell and Jason Frasor remains too high for their taste, the options include moving Francisco Liriano from the rotation and counting on prospect Anthony Slama , who has been pitching great. Jon Rauch and Matt Guerrier are also candidates. Pat Neshek is not an option as his velocity hasn't returned. … Tyler Flowers' ...